A Crime Victim's Guide to the Criminal Justice System
Investigating Crime and Laying Criminal Charges
The police, the Crown prosecutors (sometimes called Crown attorneys) and the courts play complementary roles in the enforcement of
criminal law in Canada. Provincial and territorial governments across the country are responsible for policing in their respective
jurisdictions. In addition to municipal police forces, some provinces have a provincial police force. Other provinces hire the Royal
Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP).
Police duties include investigating crimes, arresting suspects and charging people with criminal offences. When deciding to charge
a person, the police must be satisfied that there are reasonable grounds for believing that the person committed an offence. Where
there are reasonable grounds, the police can begin to proceed with criminal charges against the individual.
When the police charge a person they formally accuse that person of committing the offence named in the charge. The charge is
called an information. A person charged with an offence gets a copy of the information.
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